by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

That's because he's not scared to play a walk-on if he has to. After all, Boeheim is the most famous Syracuse walk-on as a player after joining the team his freshman year and then becoming the team's captain his senior year.

"You've got to be ready," assistant coach Adrian Autry said via The Associated Press. "They understand that it's a reality that they may be called on to play two or three or four minutes. You just never know. The games still have to be played."

Senior forward James Southerland has missed four games because of an eligibility matter, but is expected to return before the end of the season. The Post-Standard reported that Southerland will need to sit out at least two more games and will appear before a Syracuse University panel next Thursday to have his appeal heard. The hope is that the 6-foot-8 sharpshooter, who was the Orange's second-leading scorer at 13.6 points per game, will regain eligibility after the hearing.

Since Southerland's absence (he first missed Syracuse's Jan. 12 game), the Orange have still won three out of four games. Their winning fate ran out in a 75-71 overtime loss to Villanova last Saturday and a tough Big East slate is next after a helpful week-long break. Now Syracuse (18-2, 6-1) faces Pittsburgh on Saturday and then Notre Dame on Monday with little time for rest.

"Everybody's ready to play," guard Brandon Triche said via The Associated Press. "Everybody works hard. I guess there's a little bit of inexperience, but we'll be fine.

"It gives our players time to see what their roles are going to be. Then the biggest thing is everybody just being comfortable with their position on the floor. Hopefully, we stay out of foul trouble."

One player who's had an increased role is freshman forward Jerami Grant, who scored 25 points combined in Syracuse's two games against Villanova, the latest being a 75-71 overtime loss on Jan. 26.

The reserves who might be called on haven't played much all season, having scored a combined five points in 45 minutes.